Basics to do a high-quality Broadcast on Ustream

Good Camera(s) + a Good Computer + a Good Internet Connection. 

Getting Started
1. Sign up for an Account at ustream.tv
2. Create a Show under that account.
3. Download our Free Producer software at ustream.tv/producer
4. Install the Producer software on your computer. 

You will need a relatively new and powerful Mac or Windows computer to properly run our encoding and switching software. 

Other options for encoding include

Ustream Web Broadcast Console

Adobe Flash Media Live Encoder

Tricaster or Other Encoders

As good of a front end video setup you can afford.  The better the cameras, the lighting and your audio setup, the better of a Ustream broadcast you will be able to do. You can do everything from a webcam and built in mic, to a multicamera full blown shoot with 10 different wireless mics. 

No matter what your setup, you need a way to get your audio and video signals into your encoding computer.  If you are using the built in mic and webcam, then those signals will automatically be coming into the computer and will typically be automatically recognized by our software. 

If you are using external cameras and audio, then you'll need to find a way to get those signals into the computer. 

Our free version of Producer software typically will recognize most cameras that can output Firewire. 
It will recognize many (if not most) webcams that output USB. 

It generally is NOT compatible with the following cameras:  HD Cameras, HDV, AVCHD, Cameras that do not output Firewire.  For these types of cameras, you will need Producer Pro with the HDV plugin. 

There is a box that generally works with Producer called the Grass Valley ADVC 110 that costs about $200 that will allow for an S-Video input or a component input and convert that to a Firewire 400 cable to connect to the computer. 

There are also more expensive capture cards that allow for a variety of inputs and convert those signals to digital for the computer. 

For external audio, and 2 mics or less, many people choose to route their audio to the camera and then the camera can output this audio along with the video over the Firewire interface. 
One advantage of this method is that you typically won't experience any audio sync issues if you do it with this method. 

If you want to use more than one camera and don't have an external switcher, you'll need to upgrade to our Producer Pro product.  Producer Pro is available on our website at ustream.tv/producer
You can try out Producer Pro for free by downloading the Free version of producer and choosing "Try Producer Pro Features" from the Upgrade menu.  That's the best way to try out the added functionality. 

Producer Pro adds support for multiple cameras as well as higher bitrates and opens up a whole suite of advanced shot editing tools, including lower third titles, picture in picture and more precise control over audio and video clips. 

1. Download Producer software here:  http://www.ustream.tv/producer

2. Install on your computer.

3. Open software, you will see a dialog prompting you to login to your Ustream account. 

*If you don't already have a Ustream account, you can sign up here.

4. Click on the headphone icon on the right hand side of the window to mute the output monitor so you don't get feedback. 

5. A thumbnail of your webcam should automatically appear in the shot editor toward the lower left of the window. 

6. Double click the thumbnail image of your webcam to make it the active shot in the middle window. 

7. You should see the audio meter on the far right moving if you talk into your built-in microphone. 

8. Click "Broadcast" in the lower right to start broadcasting. 

9. Click "Record" if you'd like to make a recording of your broadcast on Ustream's servers (this can be accessed later by logging into your Ustream account at Ustream.tv) 

10. Visit your channel page to view your broadcast:  http://www.ustream.tv/channel/your-channel-name-here

To broadcast on Ustream, you need a camera + a way to encode the feed from that camera, or a mobile device that has a Ustream Broadcasting Application Installed.   

Cameras

1. Built-in webcams or USB-connected webcams - Apple, Sony, Dell, HP, and most modern laptops have built-in webcams.  If your computer does not have a built in webcam, you can purchase a USB webcam from most major retailers or online and connect this to your computer's USB port.  Logitech is a popular manufacturer that many of our Ustream users report good results with.  Logitech webcams range in price from $30 - $80, depending on the model. 

2. Camcorders - many SD cameras that have a Mini DV out port can connect to your computer via a Firewire cable.  Most cameras that have this you can use to connect to your computer to be recognized by Ustream Web Broadcast Console, Ustream Producer, or Adobe Flash Media Live Encoder. 

Sony DCR-HC38 and Canon ZR960 are two examples. 

To connect your camera to the computer, you'll need a Firewire (IEEE 1394) cable that has 4 pin on the end to connect to your camera (this port is sometimes called "Mini DV out," Sony, calls it "iLink") and 6 pin or 9 pin on the other end to connect to your computer, depending on which type of ports your computer has.  Most Macs have these types of ports standard, not all Windows-based computers have these. 

Some Windows computers will have a card slot where you can put in a card to add some Firewire ports to that computer. 

If your camera does not have a 4 pin firewire out port, another alternative is Canopus / Grass Valley Converter Box.  Commonly referred to as a "Canopus Box" these small converter box can accept component, S-Video and other inputs and will convert the output to Firewire, which you can then connect to your computer.  This box is also useful for taking a signal out of a DVD player, video switcher, etc.  Grass Valley offers several models of the ADVC series, depending on what kinds of inputs and outputs you need.  The ADVC-110 is a very popular model. 

4. High-end production cameras and Capture cards - the Panasonic AG-DVX100B Digital Video Camera/Recorder is very popular among the professional webcasting community. This high-end camera is used by major media companies as well as Fortune 500 corporations.  If your camera does not have a Firewire output, you may want to consider using a capture card, which you can install into you desktop computer.  Ustream Producer is designed to work with the Blackmagic capture cards.  

5. Mobile phones - you can go to www.ustream.tv/mobile to reference currently supported handsets. Check back often because Ustream is always innovating and bringing exciting products to our community.

Encoding

Once you have chosen what camera you will use, there are Ustream offers several options for taking your camera feed, encoding it and sending it to Ustream. 

Ustream Producer (Recommended)

We offer three versions of Ustream Producer:  free, Pro ($199), and Studio ($549).  

Producer is a desktop application that allows you to send your camera's video and audio and broadcast it live to your Ustream channel. 

Download Producer

Getting started with Producer

Ustream Web Broadcast Console

Click here for detailed instructions on how to use the Ustream Web Broadcast Console. 

The Ustream Web Broadcast Console is a quick and easy way to broadcast on Ustream. 

It is also a good option if you are working with very limited bandwidth. 

Adobe Flash Media Live Encoder -- ( FMLE )

Adobe offers a free encoding software that can be used with Ustream. 

Download Adobe Flash Media Live Encoder

How to Configure FMLE to work with Ustream

The Web Broadcast Console is the fastest and easiest way to broadcast on Ustream from a laptop or desktop computer.  Another option is Ustream Producer.   

To broadcast using the web console, first you'll need to create an account and then create a show under that account. 

Before you start your broadcast, connect your camera and any audio devices.  Click here for recommended cameras and equipment. 

Then:

1. Login in to your account at Ustream.tv

2. Click the "Go Live!" button in the top right of your screen. 

3. A pop up window will ask you which show you want to broadcast with and choose your show in the drop down menu, then hit Broadcast.

4. Your broadcast console window will now pop up. 

*You will need to allow pop-ups from Ustream.tv in order to access these functions*

5. As soon as you launch the broadcast console, there will be a small window overlay entitled Adobe Flash Player Settings with the following message:

Camera and Microphone Access

www.ustream.tv is requesting access to your camera and microphone.   

Click Allow. 

6. At this point, you should see the output from your webcam or other connected camera in the preview window on the left. 

7. Below the preview window, there are checkboxes for audio and video broadcast.  If you want to broadcast both audio and video (recommended) make sure both are checked. 

8. To start broadcasting, click "Start Broadcast."  To start recording, (recommended) click Start Record. 

Click here for a detailed explanation of all features of the broadcast console.

Click here for troubleshooting problems you experience with the broadcast console. 

In this video you will find out how to schedule an event. Or scroll down for written instructions.

Your show logo should be 400x300 pixels to fill up the entire background.

Customize your channel page by changing your background image and text color.
Please watch our short tutorial video or scroll down for written instructions with pictures.

Customize your channel page by changing your background image and text color.

Login to your account at Ustream.
Mouse over your username (top right) which and click on Go to Dashboard.

Click on Channel and click on Design.

Click I want to customize my theme on the lower portion of the page.

Click upload custom image and upload a JPEG or PNG file that will replace the background of your channel page.

Click tile to make your background image tiled style.

Click use no image to not use an image.

Click restore from theme to change your background image back to the original image of your selected channel theme.

Click the bar of color to change the background color, main text color, and link color.
Click Save down at the bottom when you are finished making customizations.

Options

For a full size background, a size of 1950x1200 is recommended.
For smaller images, check the box that says "tile" to have your image repeat across the background.
Alternately, you can choose "use no image" and then the background color will be effective.
*Images must be under 1Mb in size and in .jpg or .png format.

7. Once completed, click Save.